Pedal Driven Apparatus Having a Motor
Active Publication Date: 2011-07-28
FOSTER ASSETS CORPORATION
View PDF5 Cites 12 Cited by
- Summary
- Abstract
- Description
- Claims
- Application Information
AI Technical Summary
Benefits of technology
[0006]An object of the invention is to provide a smoother control of power level adjustment to a power unit on a hybrid bicycle or a smoother gearing change on a bicycle.
[0013]Relative movement between the first and second members is effected by a user applying pressure upon at least the forward-most pedal as viewed in a forward motion direction of the bicycle, although the arrangement may be such that pressure on the rearward pedal is accepted as an input to generate a control input for the other component. Where this component comprises a motor, the pressure on the pedal may increase drive power from the motor. Consequently, as will be described below, control of a power level being provided to the motor unit is effected manually through the user's (cyclist's) legs rather than by hand which reduces many of the aforesaid problems.
[0016]Preferably, the means for detecting movement comprises at least one lever member pivotally mounted on the second member so as to pivot about an axis that is perpendicular to the pedal spindle axis of rotation and which comprises a first end which engages a surface of the first member such that when the first member moves relative to the second member it causes the at least one lever member to pivot about its pivot axis whereby a second end of said lever member extends outwardly from the second member in a direction parallel to the pedal spindle axis of rotation to engage an actuator member and cause said actuator member to move in an axial direction perpendicular to said rotational directional.
[0018]Preferably, the rack and pinion assembly has a sensor associated therewith which senses rotation of the pinion and outputs a signal indicative of an amount by which the pinion has been caused to rotate by the actuator member acting on the rack. The amount by which the pinion rotates is directly proportional to the amount of relative movement between the first member and the second member / drive sprocket and thus is indicative of the amount by which a user wishes to adjust the size of the control input, e.g. the amount by which the uses wishes to adjust a power level being provided to the motor unit. The use of a rack and pinion is useful in that it enables a linear input from the actuator member to be translated into a rotational output which makes the resulting device compact in size.
[0025]Preferably, the CVT system has a servo-motor associated therewith which is configured to receive said input control signal whereby operation of the servo-motor in response to the input control signal effects a continuously variable change in the gearing ratio through movement of a control pin of the CVT system.
Problems solved by technology
A problem with this arrangement is that the presence of the conventional control devices such as gear change levers and handbrake levers at positions convenient for a user to operate by hand often necessitates the motor unit power level adjuster being located at a position on the bicycle that is not convenient for easy hand operation and may even require the user to remove one of their hands from the handlebar in order to operate said power level adjuster which is not desirable.
A further problem with conventional hybrid bicycles having a motor unit is that the positioning of the motor power level adjuster for hand operation often results in less than smooth adjustment of the level of power, e.g. electric current for an electric motor, being provided to the motor unit.
The problem of smooth adjustment is exacerbated where the user is forced to remove one of their hands from the handlebar to operate the power level adjuster as the user now has to control steering and braking of the bicycle using one hand which is further problematic in that it distracts the user from the task in hand, namely to adjust the level of power being provided to the motor unit.
The foregoing problems are also true to some degree with respect to operating a gear change lever or the like on the bicycle, particularly where the gear change lever is not readily accessible on the handlebar of the bicycle.
The foregoing are just some of the common problems encountered with conventional hybrid motor assisted pedal driven apparatuses such as bikes.
Method used
the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View moreImage
Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Smart ImageViewing Examples
Examples
Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test
Embodiment Construction
[0064]The invention primarily concerns motorized bicycles, although the invention is applicable to any hybrid apparatus having pedals to provide a human power input and a motor to provide a mechanical power input. A motorized bicycle is a bicycle with an attached motor used to power the vehicle, or to assist with pedaling. Sometimes classified as a motor vehicle, or a class of hybrid vehicle, motorized bicycles may be powered by different types of engines. Motorized bicycles are distinguished from motorcycles by being capable of being powered by pedals alone if required. The actual usage of the pedals varies widely according to the type of vehicle. Some can be propelled by the motor alone if the rider chooses not to pedal. Those known as power-assist bikes have the pedals as the main form of propulsion with the motor used to give a bit of extra power, especially uphill. Many motorized bicycles are based on standard bicycle frame designs and technologies.
[0065]In a parallel hybrid mo...
the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More PUM
Login to View More Abstract
A hybrid bicycle is provided which is manually propelled, but may include a motor unit for assisting forward propulsion of the bicycle. The bicycle has a control system for providing a control input for another component of the bicycle. Where that component comprises the motor, the control input is for increasing drive power applied by the motor unit to said bicycle. Where the component is a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the bicycle, the control input is for continuously varying the gearing ratio of the CVT. Located adjacent a drive sprocket is a moveable plate member. The plate member and the drive sprocket are mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation of a pedal spindle, although the sprocket is not fixed for rotation with the pedal spindle. The drive sprocket is loosely coupled to the plate member with the plate member being moveable relative to the sprocket by a limited distance in a rotational direction. The plate member acts on a lever mechanism when it is moved relative to said drive sprocket such that any movement of the plate member results in an axial movement of an actuator member which triggers the control system to generate the control input in response to the amount of any movement of the plate member relative to the sprocket.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to a pedal driven apparatus which can be manually propelled, but which includes a motor unit for also causing forward propulsion of the apparatus. The invention relates particularly, but not exclusively, to pedal driven wheeled apparatuses or vehicles such as bicycles having an electric motor powered by a battery pack carried on the vehicle.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]It is known to provide some manually propellable wheeled vehicles or apparatuses such as bicycles with a motor unit to assist a user in powering the apparatus, especially up sloping terrain, e.g. hills, although the motor unit is sometimes used by itself to power the bicycle over any terrain. Often, a power level adjuster, commonly referred to as a throttle, but maybe comprising a torque sensor, together with a power switch, where applicable, for the motor unit are located on a handlebar of the bicycle near to other controls such as gear change levers and handbrake...
Claims
the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More Application Information
Patent Timeline
Login to View More IPC IPC(8): F16H9/24B62M11/06
CPCB62M6/55B62M6/45
InventorCHAN, YET
OwnerFOSTER ASSETS CORPORATION